The Syrian Coalition reaffirmed commitment to negotiations in Geneva aimed at bringing about full political solution in accordance with the Geneva Communiqué of 2012 and the UN Security Council Resolutions 2118 and 2254. It reiterated that any political solution must lead to the formation of a transitional governing body with full powers, the departure of Bashar al-Assad, and accountability for war crimes carried out in Syria.

President of the Syrian Coalition Riad Seif reiterated support for the opposition’s High Negotiations Committee (HNC) and its negotiating delegation to Geneva during a meeting with Coalition members in the HNC. Seif also reiterated commitment to provide all forms of support for the HNC to succeed in its task.

Participants in the meeting stressed the importance of strengthening the relationship between the Coalition and the HNC and uniting efforts to reach a political solution that would end the bloodshed in Syria and the suffering of the Syrian people.

Seif slammed Iran’s “criminal role” in Syria as it continues to support the crimes of the Assad regime through its militias deployed in Syria which now constitute the bulk of the regime's forces.

The UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura earlier said that the UN will reconvene negotiations in Geneva on May 16. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)

Militants of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) stormed the office of the General Secretariat of the Kurdish National Council (KNC) in the town of Qamishli yesterday Tuesday and detained 13 senior members of the Council. They also forced the office to close.

The Council condemned the PYD’s detention of members of its General Secretariat, stressing that these militias "are exploiting the international consensus on the need to prioritize the fight against ISIS in the region.” It pointed out that the PYD “is seeking to force the Council to recognize their administration despite their mismanagement of the region."

"We assure the whole world that the terrorist practices of this party have exposed their false claims and slogans of seeking to promote democracy," the Council added.

The PYD militias’ move came in response to the Council’s reopening of its office in Qamishli earlier this week.

The KNC is one of the main components of the Syrian Coalition as a representative of the Kurdish community in Syria.

The Council stressed that the PYD’s terrorist practices “will only increase the Council's determination to defend our people.” It added that “it will continue to stand up against the repressive practices of the PYD as they only serve the interests of the abhorrent Baath regime.” (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)